Wildfire burns outside Great Smoky Mountains

Firefighters set a boundary as cabins burn on Black Bear Cub Way in Sevier County, Tenn Sunday March 17, 2013. As of 8:00 p.m. there was 32 cabins reported burned with 40 more in danger as shifting winds started breaking contain lines. (AP Photo/The Mountain,Curt Habraken)

AP

Published: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 9:54 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 9:54 a.m.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) — A wildfire burning in a resort area outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee has destroyed more than 30 large rental cabins.

The 145-acre fire was first reported around 5 p.m. EDT Sunday in Sevier County, said Ben Bryson, a fire resources coordinator with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.

Bryson said early Monday that the fire was contained and not expected to spread.

Some of the cabins were occupied and about 150 to 200 people were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, Bryson said.

After dawn Monday, two Tennessee Air National Guard helicopters took off from nearby McGhee Tyson Airport. A state Forestry Division spokesman said the helicopters would be used to scoop up water from Douglas Lake and drop it on the fire.

National Weather Service forecasters predict a 90 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms Monday and Monday night in the mountain region.

The area is home to country star Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park, which Bryson said was not being threatened by the fire. Dollywood was the site of a separate brush fire Saturday night but park officials said that fire would not affect the season opening this weekend.

<p>PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) — A wildfire burning in a resort area outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee has destroyed more than 30 large rental cabins.</p><p>The 145-acre fire was first reported around 5 p.m. EDT Sunday in Sevier County, said Ben Bryson, a fire resources coordinator with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.</p><p>Bryson said early Monday that the fire was contained and not expected to spread.</p><p>Some of the cabins were occupied and about 150 to 200 people were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, Bryson said.</p><p>After dawn Monday, two Tennessee Air National Guard helicopters took off from nearby McGhee Tyson Airport. A state Forestry Division spokesman said the helicopters would be used to scoop up water from Douglas Lake and drop it on the fire.</p><p>National Weather Service forecasters predict a 90 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms Monday and Monday night in the mountain region.</p><p>The area is home to country star Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park, which Bryson said was not being threatened by the fire. Dollywood was the site of a separate brush fire Saturday night but park officials said that fire would not affect the season opening this weekend.</p>